While names are already being thrown around over who will replace Charlie Hunnam in the lead role for the Fifty Shades are Grey film adaptation, an insider said it was "no surprise" the Sons of Anarchy star took a pass at the opportunity.

Universal Pictures released a statement on Oct. 12 citing Hunnam's filming schedule on FX's television show as cause for his departure but Matthew Belloni, executive editor at The Hollywood Reporter, later revealed different reasons for the change.

"The filmmakers of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam's immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey," Universal's statement read.

News of Hunnam's departure from the film is a good thing in the eyes of many Fifty Shades of Grey fans whom wanted Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel to nab the roles instead. Some wanted the stars so desperately that a Change.org petition to recast the movie has garnered more than 86,000 signatures to date.

Bomer is the most likely man to replace Hunnam in the Fifty Shades of Grey film, according to bookies. Mirror reported on Sunday that the White Collar star stands at odds of 6/1 to take on the lead.

One source, who has not spoken to Hunnam since the announcement, told E! News it was not shocking that the actor turned down the role of wealthy S&M fetishist, Christian Grey.

"This isn't a surprise because what he was taking on with this role was not what Charlie wants in his future career," the source revealed.

One possible factor for exiting the coveted role was that the media attention got to be too much for Hunnam. The fact that he even accepted the part as the S&M fetishist came as a "shock," the source said.

"The attention and the pressure was intense," the insider explained. "More than anything he hates attention and being in Fifty Shades of Grey would force him to do lots of media. That's really not his thing. Charlie doesn't want to be massively famous. Plus, he hates conforming and being told what to do. This role would force him to have to be something he is not."

Hunnam was set to star opposite Dakota Johnson, who will play Anastasia Steele. Author E.L. James, who penned the famous erotica and was involved in the film's casting process. tweeted some concern about the news while also giving Hunnam her well-wishes.

"Okay girls and boys -- hold on to your hats -- it's about to get serious..." she wrote on Oct. 12, before adding, "I wish Charlie all the best."

Before Hunnam was cast, James expressed wanting Robert Pattinson to take the role of Christian Grey. Other names initially attached to the part included Ryan Gosling, Ian Somerhalder and Chace Crawford.

The delay in casting a male lead by result in a problem with keeping to the set production schedule since the film was set for an Aug. 1, 2014, release.

Tags
Charlie hunnam, 50 shades of grey, Sons Of Anarchy